Gold Medal Count 2012: Events That Will Separate the US from China

Team USA and China are in a dead heat for the overall gold medal lead, but the upcoming events over the next week will firmly separate America from its rival superpower.

In the second week of the Olympics track and field takes the stage, and these are events that the U.S. has historically dominated. China, on the other hand, hasn't had the same level of success in Olympic Stadium, outside of a few singular moments of glory.

The second week also marks the beginning of the medal rounds for team sports, most of which the U.S. is favored to medal in.

So, let’s take a look at a few events that will distance the U.S. from China in the gold medal standings.

Track and Field

This may seem like a pretty general statement by lumping all the track events together, but the U.S. is expected to compete for upwards of 10 gold medals on the track, while China is only counting on one or two.

According to trackandfieldnews.com, the U.S. men are expected to win gold in five events, while China is predicted to take only one, the 110-meter hurdles.

On the women's side the disparity is even larger. Team USA is picked to take home six golds, while China is presumed to goose egg atop the medal stand.

However, it's not just the golden moments that Team USA is picked to dominate. It's in nearly every event.

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The U.S. can legitimately expect to contend in every race on the oval, while China is only counting on a small number of superstars in their specialties.

Expect American stars like Ashton Eaton and Sanya Richards-Ross to capture gold, and spur the U.S. well past China in the medal count.

Volleyball

Whether it's on the beach or indoors, Team USA excels in volleyball.

In Beijing the U.S. took gold in both beach volleyball events, and also won the indoor men's competition for the first time.

In London, the U.S. has a very good chance to repeat that feat.

Misty May-Treanor and Kerri Walsh Jennings are favored to keep their title as “queens of the beach,” and should take home their third straight gold.

The defending gold medalists on the men's side, Todd Rogers and Paul Dalhausser lost on Friday, but Americans Jacob Gibb and Sean Rosenthal can still carry the torch.

Inside, the men's and the women's teams are each favored to take gold, and have played up to expectations so far. Both squads have yet to be beaten in pool play, and it wouldn’t be surprising to see Team USA sweep the indoor competition.

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Volleyball should net the U.S. multiple medals, but it won't be nearly as kind to China. Expect the U.S. to take at least a three medal advantage out of this event.

Basketball

The U.S. has the best basketball teams in the world, and it’s not even close

The men's and women's sides have been utterly dominant so far, and aren't expected to slow down anytime soon.

They are the gold medal favorites, and it's more of a foregone conclusion that each will be atop the podium at the end of the games.

China has no chance to keep up with the United States in this event, and basketball will once again give the U.S. a huge boost in the medal count.